Following the 2004 season, the 49ers hired Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Nolan to be their head coach. Singletary, who was under Nolan's wing in Baltimore, decided to join Nolan in San Francisco.

Singletary coached the linebackers and was the assistant head coach for the 49ers for nearly four years.

In 2007, Singletary had head coaching interviews with the Dallas Cowboys and the San Diego Chargers, but Wade Phillips and Norv Turner were picked over him, respectively.

Also, when Baylor head coach Guy Morriss left the team after the 2007 season, Singletary was expected to be the leading candidate to become the new head coach for Baylor.

Singletary did express much interest in taking the job.

On Nov. 19, 2007, Baylor athletic director Ian McCaw flew to San Francisco in order to interview Singletary.

However, Singletary decided not to take the position, staying with the 49ers.

On Oct. 20 of the 2008-2009 season, Mike Nolan was fired from being head coach for San Francisco.

He led the team to a 5-4 record in his interim year.

On Dec. 20, 2008, after a tremendous come-from-behind win against the Washington Redskins, Singletary was offered a four-year, $10 million contract to become the official head coach of the franchise.

In 2009, Singletary went through his fair share of ups and downs, but the team went on to win eight games that year, missing the playoffs.

Despite the .500 record, San Francisco was expected to rule the NFC West, which many thought was a division that could be won by an 8-8 team.

As it turns out, 7-9 was all it needed this year.

While the expectations were high, the 49ers weren't. The team looked flat every single time they hit the field. Something needed to be changed.

With only one week left in the 2010 season, Singletary was fired after the 49ers were eliminated from playoff contention.

Even though his head coaching career wasn't tremendous, Singletary will be able to thrive by simply coaching the linebackers.

If there's one legend in this world who knows how to teach the linebacker position, it's Mike Singletary, undoubtedly.

The Minnesota Vikings are already very stacked in the front seven. Minnesota is constantly in the top 10 as far as rushing yards allowed goes.

With Minnesota's defensive line being one of the best in the league, coach Singletary will be able to bring the linebackers to a whole new level.

Also, Ben Leber will likely do whatever he can to stay with the team now that he knows what kind of coach he'll be practicing with on a daily basis.

Leber is set to become a free agent this offseason. In all likelihood, he will be back with Minnesota next season.

I'm absolutely thrilled that Mike Singletary will be running the show for Minnesota's great linebackers.

I also believe that Chad Greenway could become one of the top five outside linebackers in the NFC within the next year or two.

Many great things will come from this one hire, I can nearly guarantee it. Frazier and Singletary know each other very well, dating all the way back to when they were on the same team for many years with the Bears.

Despite a terrible showing in the 2010 season, the Minnesota Vikings look like they're about to get much better once again.

Leslie Frazier, sir, you are starting out on the right foot, and I applaud you.